Collection-indicator for mail-boxes.



} W. W. DAY. GOLLEGTION INDICATOR FOR MAIL BOXES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 24, 1909.

Patented Sept119, 1911.

v 1 W W W 5 o WILLIAM W. DAY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COLLECTION-INDICATOR FOR MAIL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 24, 1909.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 529,828.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. DAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collection-Indicators for Mail Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved col lection indicator for indicating the times of collections of the mail from postal mail boxes by the carrier or other collector, and has particularly in view certain novel and practical improvements in the construction of collection indicator covered by my former Patent No. 935,191, dated Sept. 28, 1909.

A distinctive feature of the present invention is to provide a time card device thor-v oughly protected and reinforced, while at the same time of such a construction as to permit the schedule for collections to be conveniently and readily changed as may be required or determined upon.

The present improvements are necessarily susceptible to structural changes and modifications, but the preferred and practical embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a collection indicator for mail boxes, embodying the improvements claimed herein. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the complete time card unit removed from its holding frame. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is a detail in perspective of the metallic protective carrying and backing plate for the sign sheet and cover elements of the time card unit.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The improved collection indicator comprises in its organization a holding frame 1, and a time card unit designated in its entirety, in Fig. 2, by the reference number 2, said time card unit being detachably inserted within, and held in position by the frame 1. This holding frame 1 may be of any preferred or practical construction. However, the present invention is so designed as to be readily employed in connection with the conventional time card holding frame now commonly used on mail boxes. Hence, for illustrative purposes, the frame 1 is shown of the ordinary construction, the same being of open rectangular form and consisting of the opposite parallel side members 33, and the end members 4.4, the side members 8 being usually provided with attachment lugs 5 to receive bolts or equivalent fasteners .6 for securing the frame upon the front wall 7 of the mail box, so that such wall 7 of the mail box forms the main back of the holding frame. Also, the form of holding frame 1 shown, is provided at the inner edges of its side and end members 8 and 4 with the longitudinal rabbets 8 to detachably receive therein the time card unit 2.

The time card unit 2 comprises a sign sheet 9, a metallic protective carrying and backing plate 10, and a transparent cover element 11. The sign sheet 2 is of substantially the same construction as the corresponding sign sheet disclosed in my former patent aforesaid, viz: the same being made of any suitable material, preferably of stout cardboard, and provided at opposite end edges with a transverse row of longitudinally disposed parallel receiving slots 12. These slots removably and slidably re ceive therein indicating slides 13 bearing thereon time indications for hours and fractions thereof, according to the arrangement of the schedule for collections. Also, these slides are readily interchangeable and removable, and also reversible. The reversibility of the slides provides means whereby any one of the slides may be reversed to pre sent a blank face if it is desired for any purpose to dispense with the time indication on the opposite face thereof.

In carrying out the invention, it is preferably proposed to have the slides 13 seated flush in their receiving slots, and the same are covered and held in place upon their outer sides by the transparent cover element 11, which may be glass, celluloid, or other transparent material. The transparent cover 11 is held in properly assembled relation to the sign sheet by means of the metallic protective carrying and backing plate 10. This plate backs up the sign sheet and the slides therein, and the said plate is provided at its upper and lower edges with the inturned keeper flanges 14 which receive and embrace the upper and lower edges of the sign sheet and of the cover element so as to permit said parts to be readily slid into and out of the backing for renewal or repair purposes. In addition to the upper and lower keeper flanges 14, the said backing plate 10 is provided at its open ends with a plurality of and removed from the holding'frame.

The backing plate for the unit is of very practical importance in preserving the sign sheet against weather conditions while at the same time serving to'maintain the transparent cover element in closely assembled relation therewith.

As indicated in my former patent aforesaid, the opposite columns or rows of time indicating slides are headed bythe usual ante and post meridian marks A. M. and R'M. and the other spaces on the sign sheet are printed with the usual conventional notices.

I claim:'

A mail-collection indicator comprising a time-card-unit consisting of a sign sheet ranged .upon the front side of the sign sheet and over the slides thereof, and a metallic backing plate fitting the rear side of the sign sheet and provided with upper and lower keeper flanges overhanging the top edges of both the sign sheet and the cover element, said backing plate being also provided with terminal fastenings engaging with the end edges of the cover element, the

end edges of the latter and of the si n sheet being held by the fastenings in loc ked but spaced relation to leave end openings through which the slides are accessible for removal and insertion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. DAY.

Witnesses:

R. C. BRADDooK, "EMORY L. Gnorr.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedforfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

"Washington; D30. 

